State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) visited the 5th grade classes at Franklin Primary School as a guest reader this week. She read The Rough-Faced Girl by Rafe Martin. Gordon and the students discussed the importance of valuing the qualities that a person has on the inside over a person’s appearance that was taught in the Native American folktale. Gordon also told the students that this lesson is still relevant in today’s modern world, especially when students are faced with bullying on a daily basis.

Join Peoria County and the Peoria Humane Society as we recognize and celebrate the work of Peoria County’s Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) during Animal Shelter Appreciation Week November 6 – 12. Created by the Humane Society of the United States in 1996, this week brings attention to the necessary and oftentimes difficult work of animal shelters throughout the country. Locally, PCAPS handles nearly 8,000 animals each year and responds to more than 12,000 calls for service. In addition, PCAPS helps the community by controlling stray animals, ensuring rabies prevention, returning lost pets to their owners, offering animals for adoption, and investigating animal bites and cruelty reports.

While 70% of Americans have a positive attitude about animal shelters, only 20% of new pets come from shelters or rescues. How can citizens help? Every donation, adoption, and volunteer effort serves to spread the word about the plight of homeless animals. And, these animals rely on citizens to report neglect or abuse so aid can arrive. Help PCAPS advance its cause for animals by recognizing the important work of shelters everywhere during Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

Peoria County’s animal shelter is open to the public for viewing and adopting from noon – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday. The shelter is located at 2600 NE Perry Street in Peoria. Animals at the shelter may also be viewed online by visiting www.peoriacounty.org/pcaps. Call PCAPS for more information at (309) 672-2440.

The Board of Trustees of Peoria Public Library invites those interested to join them on Friday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Local History Room as the Local History Collection is dedicated in honor of Betty Roberson, who worked at Peoria Public Library for 52 years and was instrumental in the formation of the Peoria and Illinois Collection.

Local journalist Theo Jean Kenyon summed up Mrs. Roberson’s extensive knowledge when she stated in a Journal Star newspaper article from April 21, 1996, “Before the Internet or World Wide Web, Betty Roberson was an information superhighway all by herself.” Her work is reflected in books, articles, documentaries and more produced by local authors, storytellers, the media and national publishers.

Betty J. Roberson (February 19, 1929-March 7, 2003) worked for the Peoria Public Library from September 21, 1950 until her retirement on August 30, 2002. She began in the Reference Department at the Main Library, and then spent several years working at the McClure Branch and West Bluff Branch before asking to come back to the Main Library in 1953. Mrs. Roberson became the recognized authority on local history, using the library’s unique treasury of historic information about the city and surrounding area.

She created a “Peoria Biographical Index” which is a card catalog listing the locations of names in published works and vertical files in the Peoria and Illinois historical library collection and selected the 2,000 historic Peoria photographs of greatest significance for a grant-funded project that allowed Peoria Public Library to digitize photos and preserve them on CDs.

Roberson assisted local journalist Michael Smothers with his research for the 1995 Peoria Journal Star series “Tales of Our City” and provided extensive information to Peoria’s PBS affiliate WTVP when producer William Baker produced the documentary “Main Street Memories.”

Her research assistance is acknowledged in many published works about Peoria history, such as: Peoria…Impressions of 150 Years, Bill Adams’ Yester Days, and Monica Vest Wheeler’s The Grandest Views: A History of the Peoria Park District

In 1996, she received the Reference Services Award at the Illinois Library Association’s Centennial Conference

It is with pride and pleasure that the staff and Board of Peoria Public Library name this collection in her honor.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is sponsoring four free workshops for food establishment owners/licensees to review the new Food Safety Chapter of the Peoria County Code and the new Peoria City/County Health Department policies that affect licensure of food establishments throughout Peoria County.

“This workshop will review the newly revised Food Safety Chapter of the Peoria County Code which outlines the administrative policies and procedures for the conduct of a public health food safety regulation program in Peoria County,” states Greg Chance, Administrator, Peoria City/County Health Department. “This workshop will allow representatives from food establishments to pick up renewal applications and understand any changes in the Chapter. The ultimate goal is to prevent factors in the food service operation which can lead to food borne illness, to promote safe food handling and hygienic practices, and to protect consumers in Peoria County.”

The Chapter changes address all food establishments with the following licenses having very specific changes: seasonal temporary, additional facility (indoor and outdoor), mobiles, and push carts.

Workshops will be held for owners/licensees at the Peoria Civic Center in meeting rooms 135-136 on the main level near the theater. If an owner cannot attend, a representative reporting directly to the owner can attend one of the following four workshops:
Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 7:00 -9: a.m. or 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
or
Thursday, November 17, 2011, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 -7:30 p.m.

For more information on licensing food establishments, call the Environmental Health Division at Peoria City/County Health Department at 679-6161. To review the Food Safety Chapter of the Peoria County Code or other public health issues, visit our website at www.pcchd.org.

Peoria County’s Care & Treatment Board will be conducting free developmental screenings for children birth – three years on Monday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Screenings will be conducted at the Care & Treatment Board office located at 2016 N. Knoxville in Peoria. By participating in a screening, parents will better understand developmental milestones and what to expect during different stages of their child’s development. Referrals to developmental assistance programs will be provided as necessary. For more information or to schedule a developmental screening, please call 999-7030.

Peoria MSA jumps 38 spots on the www.newgeography.com list of “Best Midsized Cities for Job Growth.” Peoria MSA ranks #27 in midsized cities category. That’s up from the 65 ranking we received in 2010. Of the communities/MSA’s we consider competitors only Lincoln NE, Lexington KY & Madison WI ranked above us.

The Peoria MSA (as well as those competitors mentioned) falls in the “Midsize” range which includes 90 MSA’s with 150,000 to 450,000 jobs. New Geography reports the Peoria MSA has 178,800 non-farm jobs.

The methodology for this ranking emphasizes the robustness of a region’s growth both recently and over time. The rankings include all of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data.

To learn more on how this index is calculated and the entire list of “Best Cities for Job Growth” visit www.newgeography.com.

Red Cross encourages families to change their smoke detector batteries when they “fall back”

It’s almost time to “Fall Back” again! At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 6, your clocks will need to be turned back an hour. The American Red Cross also reminds everyone that it’s a good time to also change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors at home.

Smoke Detector Fast Facts
· Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.*
· The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51% less than the rate for homes without this • protection.*
· Having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half.** •

* U.S. Fire Administration and the ** National Fire Protection Association.

Smoke Detector Preparedness Tips
· Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. If you keep bed­room doors shut, place a smoke alarm in each bedroom.
· Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries replaced yearly, or as soon as you hear a low-battery warning which usually sounds like a “chirping” noise.
· Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.
· Keep smoke alarms clean by vacuuming over and around it regu­larly. Dust and debris can interfere with its operation.
· Install smoke alarms away from windows, doors, or ducts that can interfere with their operation.
· Never remove the battery from or disable a smoke alarm. If your smoke alarm is sounding “nuisance alarms”, try locating it further from kitchens or bathrooms.
· Plan regular fire drills to prac­tice your escape plan ensuring everyone in your home knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds.
· Smoke alarms wear out. Replace your alarms every 10 years. If you can’t remember when you last replaced them, buy new alarms that are inter­connected if possible. Install them using manufacturer’s instructions and hire an electrician for installing alarms that are hard-wired into your home’s electrical system.

For more advice on smoke detectors, please visit http://www.redcrossillinois.org/smoke-alarms-and-carbon-monoxide-detectors

Support your local businesses by participating in Small Business Saturday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This is a national initiative to encourage shoppers to support local, independent businesses in their own community. It was founded last year by American Express to help address small businesses’ greatest need: sales. Peoria County has pledged support and will continue to keep citizens abreast of this local shopping opportunity. This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 26th!

Peoria County TRIAD is hosting its second annual chili cook-off fundraiser and bake sale on Thursday, November 10 from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. The cook off is at Salem Lutheran Church, 1700 W. War Memorial Drive. The event is free, but a $5 donation is suggested. Cornbread, desserts, lemonade, and tea accompany the chili. TRIAD is a senior safety organization that strives to educate seniors on frauds, scams, and how to maintain safety in ther lives.

Friday, November 11th and Saturday, November 12th are two days this year to take advantage of great prices and help Peoria County’s Child Advocacy Center raise money. Booklets can be purchased for just $5 and include: coupons for $10 off an item valued at $10 or more; 30% off early bird coupon; and other savings, coupons, and web-exclusive offers. Call 669-2900 to purchase a booklet.